House approves law clinic provision in budget

ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland House of Delegates has approved a change to the state budget involving a long-simmering debate about how a Maryland law school clinic handles cases involving farmers.

The House voted 91-46 on Thursday to change a provision approved by the Senate that would shift $250,000 to pay for university lobbyists to create an agricultural law clinic dedicated to helping farmers comply with environmental laws.

Supporters of striking the Senate provision say it’s an example of heavy-handed micromanaging by the state over academia. But opponents of taking out the Senate provision say a message needs to be sent to the law clinic that it shouldn’t beat up on farmers in court.

The differences between the Senate and House on the matter will have to be resolved later.